CEDAR BLUFF, Miss. — A violent spree in a small Mississippi community left six people dead Friday night, including a 7-year-old girl, as a single gunman allegedly carried out multiple shootings across three locations. Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott held a news conference Saturday, detailing the events stemming from the attack, which began shortly before 7 p.m.
Authorities charged 24-year-old Daricka Moore with first-degree murder, with the potential for additional capital murder charges to follow. The sheriff indicated that some victims were related to the suspect, though the motive for the shootings remains unclear.
The series of tragic events began with a 911 call reporting gunfire at an address on Blake Road in Cedar Bluff, a rural area in western Clay County. Upon arriving at a home on David Hill Road, deputies found the bodies of Moore’s father, 67-year-old Glen Moore; his uncle, 55-year-old Willie Ed Guines; and his brother, 33-year-old Quintin Moore. All three men suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
After allegedly killing his family members, Moore is said to have stolen his brother’s Ford F-150 truck and drove to the Blake Road residence. There, he reportedly forced entry into the home, where he attempted an armed sexual assault and shot the young girl, who was also related to him, in front of witnesses.
As law enforcement responded to the scene, they found the child, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and declared her dead shortly thereafter. Following this horrific incident, Moore continued his flight in the stolen vehicle, eventually reaching another home on Siloam-Griffin Road.
At this location, deputies uncovered the truck concealed behind the house. Within, they discovered two additional victims, identified as Barry Bradley and Samuel Bradley from Columbus, both of whom sustained gunshot wounds to the head. The sheriff noted that one of the Bradleys was a local pastor, but the reason for their targeting remains a mystery.
Authorities apprehended Moore without incident at an intersection a short distance away, where he was found driving yet another stolen vehicle. Sheriff Scott described the case as one of the most challenging he has encountered in his three-decade career, expressing deep sympathy for the victims’ families and reflecting on the deep impact the killings had on the community.
“Everyone is in shock,” the sheriff stated, adding that he had spoken with the victims’ family, who expressed disbelief at the suspect’s actions. “We never would have thought he was capable of such a thing,” he quoted them as saying.
The investigation continues, with the district attorney’s office indicating that they will consider seeking the death penalty for Moore in light of the severity of the crimes committed. The community remains reeling from the tragedy, as many come to terms with the scale of the violence and its impact on their lives.